Cast sandal

ABSTRACT

A cast sandal adapted for fitting over a conventional foot cast including flexible strap means for securing the sandal to the sole of the cast adjustable fastening structures on some of the strap members for snugly holding the sandal on the cast in a manner providing a walking surface for the cast and also protecting a person&#39;&#39;s toes when standing and a person&#39;&#39;s heel when sitting so as to protect such parts against injury while simultaneously protecting the sole of the cast from being worn out. Further, the sole of the sandal is provided with frictionable non-skid material thus virtually eliminating the possiblity of a person with a broken foot or leg from slipping due to the slipping of the cast when engaging the ground in an otherwise normally slippery situation.

[76] Inventor:

United States Patent 91 Kennedy CAST SANDAL Maxine D. Kennedy, 1555 Williams Blvd., Springfield, 111. 62704 [22] Filed: July 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 380,462

Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson 1 Mar. 26, 1974 [57] ABSTRACT A cast sandal adapted for fitting over a conventional foot cast including flexible strap means for securing the sandal to the sole of the cast adjustable fastening structures on some of the strap members for snugly holding the sandal on the cast in a manner providing a walking surface for the cast and also protecting a persons toes when standing and a persons heel when sitting so as to protect such parts against injury while simultaneously protecting the sole of the cast from being worn out. Further, the sole of the sandal is provided with frictionable non-skid material thus virtually eliminating the possiblity of a person with a broken foot or leg from slipping due to the slipping of the cast when engaging the ground in an otherwise normally slippery situation.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CAST SANDAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to orthopedic protective apparatus and more particularly to a novel cast sandal enabling a person to more readily walk with a cast upon a persons leg in a manner providing additional protection to a persons toes and to the heel portion of the cast and without danger of damaging the sole of the cast during walking by the person.

2. Description of the Prior Art A person having a broken leg, foot, or ankle normally has a cast formed about the broken extremity to protect the extremity while the bones are healing. When the cast involves the foot of the person, it usually extends along the foot and terminates in an opening adjacent the toes, leaving the toes exposed to the atmosphere. In a walking type cast this provides a danger to the individual not familiar with walking with the cast of injurying the exposed toes by striking the same against obstacles or the like during the walking process, with the result being a possible injury to the individuals toes.

Further, in the treatment of the fractures of the foot and leg it is customary to require ambulation as soon as possible after the cast is properly set so that the medical healing process is expedited. Heretofore this has been effected by providing a so-called walker or walking iron secured in the sole of the cast in a position either intermediate the heel and the toe of the cast, or in a position nearer the heel end of the cast, and upon which the individual is to engage the ground during walking. The use of this type of walking iron provides several disadvantages, among which is the hazard presented in that only a small portion of the iron contacts the ground surface so that it is readily possible for an individual to slip during walking and thus suffer further harm or injury. Further, the use of the walking iron prevents the individual from taking any type of a so-called normal step but rather requires a twisting type motion of the foot and leg which is quite tiring to the individual when walking sustained distances.

Prior art devices thus suffer many problems and difficulties in attempting to provide a suitable solution permitting improved ambulation of an individual after fracture in a manner encouraging the walking of an individual which would thus speed up the medical healing process of the broken bones.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention remedies and overcomes all of the foregoing deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available walking devices for use with a foot cast by providing a novel cast sandal adapted to protect both the heel and exposed toes of an individual and adapted to be adjustably secured to the cast in a manner completely overlapping and covering the sole of the cast to protect the same and serve as a ground engaging surface therefor.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a cast sandal wherein the means for securing the cast sandal on the cast are novelly designed to ensure snug fitting of the sandal on the sole of the cast and thereby effectively maintain the sandal in the desired position.

A further feature of the present invention provides a novel cast sandal adapted for securing to the sole of a fully protected from wear and tear and being maintained in a clean manner.

Still a further feature of the present invention pro vides a cast sandal adapted for use with a foot cast and permitting a sock to be placed over the cast and projecting toes in a manner to keep the individuals foot clean, warm, and dry, with the sandal being adjustable to fit over the sock and provide a sole member for engagement with the ground during walking on the cast.

The provision of a cast sandal such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the stated advantages, constitutes the principal features of the present invention. The provision of cast sandal which is relatively inexpensive due to its simplicity of construction; one which is rugged and durable and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to provide full protection to the sole and heel portions of the cast; one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one which may be provided in a number of different colors and decorative designs; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cast sandal of the present invention secured to the soleof a cast;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cast sandal secured to a foot cast;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sandal secured to a foot cast;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sole member of the sandal taken along a cutting plane passing through the center of the sole member in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis thereof; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section view taken on Line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is seen the sandal of the present invention which is designated generally by reference numeral 10. The sandal 10 of the present invention is adapted to be secured to a cast such as that formed from a rigid dressing of gauze impregnated with plaster of paris for immobilizing a broken part of the foot or leg. The conventional foot cast includes a foot portion 11 extending from the ankle of the individual along the foot and terminating in an opening 12 exposing the toes 14 of the individuals foot.

The sandal consists of a generally planar relatively rigid elongated sheet like sole member 20 shaped to fit the sole of the cast 11 and having a top surface 21 being substantially flat and adapted to be placed under and in contact with the sole 15 of the cast, a bottom surface 22 adapted to engage the ground, a front toe end 23 which is arcuately curved upwards out of the plane of the top surface in a manner to protect the individuals toes 14, a back heel end 24 which is arcuately curved upwardly in a manner extending above the plane of the top surface adapted to engage a heel portion 16 of the cast 11 to retain the sandal properly positioned on the cast, and opposed side edges 25 and 26 each being arcuately curved slightly upwards out of the plane of the top surface in a manner adapted to engage portions of the side edges of the cast to protect the same when walking.

Connected to the front portion of the sole member are a pair of adjustable interconnected straps 31 and 32, strap 31 having one end connected to the sole member adjacent side edge 26 with the opposite end projecting freely outwardly therefrom, with strap 32 having one end connected to the sole member adjacent side edge in a position transversely spaced from and aligned with the one connected end of the strap 31 with the free end of strap 32 projecting outwardly therefrom. The free end portion of strap 31 is provided with a longitudinally extending spaced apart series of openings 33 therein with strap 32 having attached to the free end thereof a buckle and pin structure 34 adapted to adjustably receive the free end of strap 31 therein with the selected adjusted position being retained by engagement of the buckle 34 with a selected one of the openings 33.

Connected to the back portion of the sole member 20 is a pair of associated interconnected strap members 41 and 42, one end of strap 41 connected to the sole member adjacent side edge 26 with the free end projecting outwardly therefrom in an upward and forwardly in clined direction, with one end of strap 42 being connected to the sole member adjacent side edge 25 in a position transversely spaced from and aligned with the connected end of strap 41 with the free end of strap 42 projecting outwardly from the sole member in an upwards and forwardly inclined direction. Longitudinally spaced along the free end of the strap 41 is a plurality of spaced apart openings 43, with the free end of strap 42 terminating in a buckle and pin structure 44 adapted to receive the free end of strap 41 therethrough in an adjustable manner with the selected adjustment being retained by the buckle engaging the selected opening 43.

A single unitary strap member 51 is disposed substantially parallel to the top surface 21 of the sole member 20 and has a first end 52 fixedly connected to the connected end portion of strap 41 with an opposite end portion 53 fixedly connected to the connected end portion of strap 42 in a position transversely spaced from and aligned with the end 52 so as to define a loop extending rearwardly from straps 41 and 42 in a manner adapted to engage a rear portion of the cast 11 as shown in the drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 5 it is seen that the sole member 20 is preferably formed of two laminated materials, the top material being identified by reference numeral 61 with the bottom material identified by reference numeral 62, the top material including aforedescribed top surface 21 with the bottom material including the aforedescribed bottom surface 22, the materials 61 and 62 bonded together along their juxtapositioned line of contact 63 in any preferable manner, such as by use of suitable adhesives, heat sealing, and the like. The bottom material 62 is of a material having a coefficient of friction to give maximum traction and, therefore, is preferably formed from a rubber composition material or the like providing a non-slip ground engaging bottom surface 22. Alternatively, it is to be understood that the entire sole member 20 may be formed of a frictionable material providing a non-slip surface if the same is so desired.

In operation, the straps 31, 32 and 41, 42 are unbuckled after which the cast 11 is properly seated on the sole member 20 with the heel 16 engaging the heel end 24, and with strap 51 properly seated and engaging the back heel portion of the cast, after which the straps are adjustably reconnected and re-buckled together in a manner to snugly retain the sandal 10 on the sole 15 of the cast.

it is to be understood that the sandal 10 is to be produced and manufactured in various sizes to accomodate different cast sizes with each of the casts being of a sufficient length to permit a sock or the like to be placed over the cast and projecting toes 14 in a manner to cover and protect the same prior to placing the sandal 10 on the sole of the cast.

There is thus provided a cast sandal removable attached to a cast in a manner providing a non-slip sole of the bottom of the cast and further protecting the cast from any type of wearing engagement with the ground while protecting the cast from cold and ground contact moisture, and permitting the individual wearing the cast to walk thereon in an approximate normal manner with both the heel cast portion and the exposed individual toes being substantially protected from abuse when walking and sitting.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A cast sandal intended for use with the lower extremity of the cast-encased leg and foot to provide a walking surface for the cast, the cast sandal comprising:

a generally planar, relatively rigid elongated sheet like sole member shaped to fit the sole of a cast and has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front toe end, a back heel end, and opposed side edges, the major portion of the top surface being substanitally flat and adapted tobe placed under and in contact with the sole part of the cast, the bottom surface adapted to engage the ground, the side edges each being arcuately curved slightly upwardly in a manner to engage portions of the side edges of the cast to protect the same, and the heel end being arcuately curved upwards and extending above the plane of the sole member in a manner to positively engage the heel back edge of the cast to attain the same properly positioned on the sole member;

a first elongated adjustable flexible member connected to the forward portion of the sole member and extending from the forward portion in an upward direction defining an adjustable loop adapted to engage and retain the front foot cast portion of a person on the sole member;

a second elongated adjustable flexible member con nected to the rearward portion of the sole member and extending therefrom in an upward direction inclined forwardly of the sole member toward the toe end defining an adjustable loop adapted to engage and retain the heel cast portion of a person on the sole member; and

third elongated flexible member having its ends connected to opposite end portions of the second flexible member and projecting rearwardly therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to the sole member and spaced upwardly therefrom defining a loop adapted to engage the back heel portion of the cast to assist in retaining the sandal properly positioned on the cast.

2. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 1 wherein the toe end is arcuately curved slightly upwards out of the plane of the sole member in a manner to provide a protective lip portion for protecting the exposed toes of an individual projecting outwardly from the front opening of a normal type of foot cast.

3. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first, second, and third flexible members are each strap members; the first flexible member including a pair of straps with each strap having one end connected to an associated side edge of the sole member with the connected ends being transversely spaced apart and transversely aligned, with the free end of each strap projecting outwardly from the sole member with the free end of one of the straps terminating in a buckle member with the free end of the opposite strap being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein, the respective straps forming the first flexible member adapted to overlap their ends in an adjustable manner with the adjusted fitting being retained by the interaction of the buckle member on the one strap with the selected one of the apertures on the other strap; the second flexible member including a pair of strap members each having one end connected to an associated edge of the sole member in transverse spaced apart alignment thereon with the free ends of each of the straps extending outwardly from the sole member, the free end of one of the straps terminating in a buckle structure with the free end of the remaining strap having a series of longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein, the free ends of the straps adapted to overlap with the buckle structure engaging a selected one of the apertures to adjustably select and retain the interconnection of the straps; and the third flexible member ineluding a single unitary strap member having one end connected to one of the straps of the second pair of straps with the opposite end connected to the remaining strap of the second pair of straps, the third strap member projecting rearwardly from the second pair of strap members with the rearward bight portion of the loop defined by the third strap member being disposed approximately above and spaced from the heel end of the sole member such that a foot cast may be properly positioned on the top surface of the sole member with the third strap member properly positioned about the back of the cast after which the first and second flexible strap members are adjusted in a manner to snugly retain the sandal securely on the sole of the foot cast to provide a walking surface therefor.

4. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 3 wherein the sole member is manufactured and formed of a frictionablc non-slip material providing the sole of the cast with a non-slip ground engaging walking surface.

5. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bottom surface of the sole member is formed of a frictionable non-slip material bonded in a laminated manner to the top surface of the sole member to provide a non-slip ground engaging surface for the sole of the cast. 

1. A cast sandal intended for use with the lower extremity of the cast-encased leg and foot to provide a walking surface for the cast, the cast sandal comprising: a generally planar, relatively rigid elongated sheet like sole member shaped to fit the sole of a cast and has a top surface, a bottom surface, a front toe end, a back heel end, and opposed side edges, the major portion of the top surface being substanitally flat and adapted to be placed under and in contact with the sole part of the cast, the bottom surface adapted to engage the ground, the side edges each being arcuately curved slightly upwardly in a manner to engage portions of the side edges of the cast to protect the same, and the heel end being arcuately curved upwards and extending above the plane of the sole member in a manner to positively engage the heel back edge of the cast to attain the same properly positioned on the sole member; a first elongated adjustable flexible member connected to the forward portion of the sole member and extending from the forward portion in an upward direction defining an adjustable loop adapted to engage and retain the front foot cast portion of a person on the sole member; a second elongated adjustable flexible member connected to the rearward portion of the sole member and extending therefrom in an upward direction inclined forwardly of the sole member toward the toe end defining an adjustable loop adapted to engage and retain the heel cast portion of a person on the sole member; and a third elongated flexible member having its ends connected to opposite end portions of the second flexible member and projecting rearwardly therefrom in a plane substantially parallel to the sole member and spaced upwardly therefrom defining a loop adapted to engage the back heel portion of the cast to assist in retaining the sandal properly positioned on the cast.
 2. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 1 wherein the toe end is arcuately curved slightly upwards out of the plane of the sole member in a manner to provide a protective lip portion for protecting the exposed toes of an individual projecting outwardly from the front opening of a normal type of foot cast.
 3. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first, second, and third flexible members are each strap members; the first flexible member including a pair of straps with each strap having one end connected to an associated side edge of the sole member with the connected enDs being transversely spaced apart and transversely aligned, with the free end of each strap projecting outwardly from the sole member with the free end of one of the straps terminating in a buckle member with the free end of the opposite strap being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein, the respective straps forming the first flexible member adapted to overlap their ends in an adjustable manner with the adjusted fitting being retained by the interaction of the buckle member on the one strap with the selected one of the apertures on the other strap; the second flexible member including a pair of strap members each having one end connected to an associated edge of the sole member in transverse spaced apart alignment thereon with the free ends of each of the straps extending outwardly from the sole member, the free end of one of the straps terminating in a buckle structure with the free end of the remaining strap having a series of longitudinally spaced apart apertures therein, the free ends of the straps adapted to overlap with the buckle structure engaging a selected one of the apertures to adjustably select and retain the interconnection of the straps; and the third flexible member including a single unitary strap member having one end connected to one of the straps of the second pair of straps with the opposite end connected to the remaining strap of the second pair of straps, the third strap member projecting rearwardly from the second pair of strap members with the rearward bight portion of the loop defined by the third strap member being disposed approximately above and spaced from the heel end of the sole member such that a foot cast may be properly positioned on the top surface of the sole member with the third strap member properly positioned about the back of the cast after which the first and second flexible strap members are adjusted in a manner to snugly retain the sandal securely on the sole of the foot cast to provide a walking surface therefor.
 4. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 3 wherein the sole member is manufactured and formed of a frictionable non-slip material providing the sole of the cast with a non-slip ground engaging walking surface.
 5. The cast sandal as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bottom surface of the sole member is formed of a frictionable non-slip material bonded in a laminated manner to the top surface of the sole member to provide a non-slip ground engaging surface for the sole of the cast. 